Folding table.



E. T. BURROWESt FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION mm NOV. 26. 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patenfed July 31, 1917.

E. naunmwzzs.

. FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.Z6. 1913. LQ35AS1 Patented July 31, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

E. T. BURROWES.

FOLDI'NG TABLE.

APPLICATION man NOV 26. I913.

' Patented July 31, 1917. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EDWARD 'r. BUnnowEs, or PORTLAND, MAINE.

FOLDING TABLE.

reenter.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Application filed November 26, 1913. Serial No. 803,129.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD T. 'Bunnowns, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Portland,in the county, of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in folding tables, of the kind usually employed for card playing, etc. One purpose of the invention is to provide an improved molding for concealing the edges of the cover, as well as for strengthening the frame and improving the finish of the table; another purpose of the invention is to provide means for locking the table legs, in their extended positions in such manner that the legs may be released and folded bv striking or pressing against the same with one hand without the necessity of first unlocking the braces by a separate manual operation; other purposes of the invention are to provide improved means for strengthening the table top and means for pivotally connecting the legs to the frame.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding table embodying my improvements;

F ig. l is a detail view illustrating one of the leg brackets;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the metal molding for the edges of the table;

Fig. at is a bottom plan view of the table top shown in Fig. 1, the legs being folded;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through a portion of the table t0p,'taken close to one of the bars of the supporting frame, illustrating the spring locking means for the leg braces;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view-through the table parallel with one of the sides of the frame, showing one of the legs extended, the bracket to which it is hinged, the brace, and the locking means for the brace;

F ig.-- 7 is a perspective view, taken from the inner side, of adjoining parts of the molding connected by a metal corner piece;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of one of the corner pieces; Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through a portion of a modified form of molding in which the sides are made in one continuous piece;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but illustrating a different method of attaching the table cover to the frame;

Fig. 10" is a sectional view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except that the upper side of the molding is extended inwardly farther over the table top;

Fig. 11 is a top perspective view of a portion of the reinforcing plate for thetable top, shown in Fig. 4, made of sheet material and having hollow ribs formed therein, as by pressing and stamping;

Fig. 12 is a similar view ofa reinforcing plate having solid ribs;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view through a table top and frame, showing the reinforcing plate of Fig. 12 applied thereto;

Fig. l i is a top perspective view of a reinforcing plate made of sheet material and having a different arrangement of ribs from that shown in Figs. 4 and 11;

Fig. 15 is an inner side view of a portion of one of the side bars illustrating another form of locking means'for the brace; and,

Fig. 16 is a similar view illustrating another form of locking means for the brace.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, of the drawing, a indicates a table top which is usually made of pulp-board, fiber, or like material, and is secured to a wooden sup porting frame I), by means of tacks 1, orv other suitable fastening devices driven through the top and into the frame. The top is thus supported at its margins by the frame. The table shown in the drawing is rectangular in form, and the frame I), therefor, is composed of four strips 2, which strips are secured rigidly together in any suitable way, as by dovetailing and gluing the corners, or by mitering and nailing the parts together.

rounded, as shown at 3, Fig. 2, and the outer face of the frame is flush with the edges of the top down to the point 4, where the side bars are off-set outwardly for a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the The edges of the top are Y cover 0, which is of cloth, leather, or other Y metal having their opposite edges rolled or flanged in the same direction, giving each strip substantially a U-form in cross section,

the curved portions of the strips conforming to the curvature of the outer edges of the table top and frame, so that when the molding is applied to the table it will lit snugly against the outer sides of the frame and the cover thereon, and over the rounded edges of the table top and frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The metal molding thus obscures from View the unfinished edges of the cover, and the turning of the molding inwardly over the top of the table avoids the formation of any crevices into which dust and dirt might fall and accumulate. The molding, also fitting tightly against the solid parts of the top and frame, cannot be easily dented with ordinary usage, and it makes a neat finish for the margins of the table. The bars of the molding are connected at their meeting ends by metal corner pieces 8, which, as shown, are fitted to the outer sides of the bars. These corner pieces are made of thin metal and are finely finished, and conform very closely to the curvature of the bars, and when secured in place by rivets 9, no crevices are left between the corner pieces and the bars. The ireferred way of assemblin the molding, preparatory to applying it to a rectangular table, is illustrated in 3, wherein the bar 7 is connected to the bars 2" and 7 by corner pieces, making three sides of the frame, and the corner pieces 8 are riveted to the free ends of the bars 7" and 7. If all four sides of the molding were connected together by the corner pieces, the molding could not be applied to the table top, owing to the id-TOME of the bars. Therefore, in applying the molding, the side 7 which is not riveted to the other parts, is suitably secured by wood screws to the frame 5, or otherwise held in position while the bars 7 and '7 are spread slightly and the three connected sides of the frame are slipped onto the table by a movement in the plane of the top and frame. The corner pieces 8 then over-lap the side W, and wood screws inserted through the corner pieces 8 and the side T into the frame b, complete the connection of the four sides of the moldiug. ings 7 at suitable intervals, through which wood screws may be inserted to securely fasten the molding to the frame. These openings may be punched in the metal, and at the same time the edges of the openings may be slightly countersunk to permit the heads of the wood screws to lie flush with the molding. The corner pieces obscure the joints between the several strips of the molding, so that it is not necessary to put a finish on the meeting ends of the strips. Tn

The strips are provided with open-- addition to connecting the strips together and obscuring the joints between them, the corner pieces protect the table against injury at the corners and add an ornamental appearance to the table.

Tnstead of making the molding of separate strips for the different-sides, it might be made of a continuous strip 7*", Fig. 9, the over-turned portions or flanges being cut away, as indicated at 7 in order to make the bends at the corners between adjacent sides. This form of molding, however, could not be so easily made or applied to the table as the form previously described.

Also, instead of securing the cover, as shown in Fig. 2, a recess or slot 10 may be formed in the outer side of each side bar of the frame, and the cover a may be secured in position by rods 11 pressed into the slots and locking the edges of the cover therein, as illustrated in Fig. 10.

In Fig. 10 a molding (Z is shown in which the upper flange 7 is extended inwardly over the table top and cover beyond the side bar of the frame 5. This wide,

upper flange, especially when the metal is grained to resemble wood, gives the table the appearance of having a wide frame, without actual widening of the frame 6, which it is desirable to lzeep comparatively narrow to provide space near the corners for placing the legs. Tables provided with moldings as in Fig. 10 are desirable for smokers use, and suitably designed match boxes may be used as corner pieces to cover the joints in the molding.

As it is desirable that folding tables of this description shall be light in weight, in order that they may be easily handled, the tops a are usually made of fiber, pulp-board, or similar material, and usually the tops are strengthened by securing wooden braces to the under sides thereof, or to the frames of the tables. Tn the present invention, T have shown a reinforcing means for the table top which greatly strengthens the top without adding much to the weight of the table, and which is formed of a single piece and can be more readily handled and ap-.

plied than the slats. With this reinforcing plate, under-lying the central portion of the top, between the bars of the frame, or even extending over said bars if desired, the top may be made of thinner material than usual for a given strength. in Figs. 4 and 11, the reverse sides of a reinforcing plate 6 are shown, the plate being applied to the under side of the table top a, in Fig. i. This plate is made of sheet material, either metal, fiber, or pulp-board, and hollow ribs 12 are formed in the plate by stamping, pressing, or otherwise. These ribs may extend in yariousdirections and at any desired angles to serve the purpose of strengthening the plate, and they may extend to the margin of the plate or only through its central portion. As shown in Fig. 4, the plate e is rectangular and of smaller dimensions than the table top. This plate may be secured to the top, before the cloth cover is applied thereto, by means of tacks or other suitable fastening devices driven through the plate and the top and clenched, this being the preferred manner of attaching the strengthening plate if made of metal. If made of other material, such as fiber, it may be glued or cemented to the under side of the top l/Vhen in position it will be noted that the top is well supported at its margins by the frame, and at its central portion, within boundaries of the frame, by the reinforcing plate which adds greatly to the rigidity of the top.

In Fig. 14, is shown for the purpose of illustration, another reinforcing plate 6', made of pressed or stamped material, this plate having the hollow ribs 12 extending to its margins, whereas, in the previously described plate the ribs 12 do not extend en-. tirely across the plate. Instead of making the reinforcing plate outof sheet material and stamping or pressing up the ribs or ridges, the plates may be molded, or cast, and in that event the ribs may be made solid, as shown at 12 in Figs. 12 and 13, in which 6 represents a molded or cast plate of metal, or, preferably of fiber, pulp-board or the like. The reinforcing plates also, instead of being arranged wholly within the boundaries of the table frame, may be made larger and extended over the frame, as illustrated in Fig. 13, in which case the top of the table may be made thinner than usual as it is supported throughout its entire area by the reinforcing plate. The ribs may bearranged in ways that are ornamental as well as useful and the entire strengthening plate does not detract from the appearance of table.

The four legs f of the table, when folded, lie parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the frame. For connecting the legs with the table, I have provided a novel form of bracket 9. Each bracket is formed so as to space the leg attached to it a suitable distance from the side of the frame with which the leg lies parallel when folded, so as to permit room for the operation of the brace 23, and the bracket is also provided with a part which locks the end of another leg when folded. The several brackets are alike in construction. As shown, each comprises a strip of metal bent or otherwise formed at its center into a U-form or yoke, as indicated at 14, and the leg f is pivoted within the yoke by a pivot pin 15 having a head at one end and a perforation at the opposite end, through which a cotter pin 15 may be inserted. The central portion of the yoke 14 is secured by suitable fastening means to one side bar of the table frame, and one arm of yoke has an overturned end 14, which is provided with a small perforation or depression 14 adapted to receive the rounded head of a pin or projection 16, which is secured to the inner side of another table leg near the bottom thereof, the arrangement being such that when this latter table leg is folded, the pin will enter the perforation mentioned andthe leg will be latched in the folded position. Thus, each bracket 92 serves to pivotally support one of the legs in its proper'position and has a means for latching another leg arranged at right angles thereto when the latter is folded.

In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, I have shown means forlocking the legs in their extended positions, said means permitting the legs to be unlocked and. moved to their closed positions by exerting pressure upon the legs. As shown, the side bars of the frame are cut away on their inner sides as indicated at 17, and arranged upon this cut away portion of each bar is a resilient strip 18 which may be of any suitable material, but preferably of wood. This bar has one end connected by a screw, or other suitable fastening device, 19 t0 the side bar of the frame, adjacent to the shoulder 20 above the cut away portion, and at a considerable distance from the fastening device 19 the resilient bar is secured by another device 21 to the side bar of the frame near its lower edge. The resilient bar or rod 18 thus forms, with the shoulder 20, a tapering slot 22. The leg brace 23, which has one end pivotally connected at 24 to the table leg, has an over-turned end 23 upon which is arranged a roller 23 adapted to ride in the slot 22. The resilient rod 18 also has a notch 25 near the smaller and of the slot. It will be evident that when the leg is extended, the over-turned end 23 of the brace and the roller thereon will ride on the resilient bar into the narrower portion of the slot, and will become locked by the resilient bar when the roller drops into the notch 25. The notch, however, is of such shape, that by exerting pressure upon the le of the table the roller may be forced out of the notch and into the wider portion of the slot, where it rides freely until the leg is in horizontal position, when the pin on the end of the leg will engage the opening 14 on the bracket which supportsv a leg at the other side of the table. Thus, it is unnecessary to take hold of the brace in order to move the leg from either of its locked positions to the other. Both walls of th slot may be made and assembled as a separate attachment, and secured to the frame instead of cutting out the frame to form one wall and setting the resilient mamber, which constitutes the other wall, in the cut away portion.

Another form of resilient locking device for locking the brace when the legs are extended is shown in Fig. 15. In t-Qs View 2 represents one of the side bars of the table frame having a slot 22, the sides of which may be parallel, but'cut out as indicated at 26 to permit a spring clip 27 to be inserted within the slot. As shown, this clip comprises a strip of spring metal doubled upon itself, forming a resilient loop 27 at the center, and adjacent to the loop the two arms 27 are bowed outwardly in opposite directions, as indicated at 27, to form a socket for receiving the roller 28 on the brace 23. From the bowed portions the arms 27* diverge, and these arms are provided with suitable teeth which are driven into the side walls of the slots and secure the clip in position. The arms of the clip constitute continuations of the slot walls which converge toward the socket. it will be evident that the movement of the table leg to its extended position will cause the roller on the brace to ride into the socket 27, where it will be locked, that by exerting sufficient pres sure on the leg, in the opposite direction, the roller may be forced out of the socket and the leg fold d. lhis makes a very simple and effective form of fastening device easily applied within a straight groove in the table Another fo m of fastening device is shown in Fig. 16. In tiis figure the side bar EZ 'of the frame is shown as having a slot 22", the walls of which are parallel in that portion of the slot in which the brace end rides after being unlocked, while one wall is cut away to enlarge the slot at the locking end, as indicated at 22 v fithin this enlarged portion is arranged a spring 28 of undulating form, which. lies adjacent the cut out portion 22 of the slot wall The end of the sprin is finely corrugated or crinkled, as shown so that when driven edgev narrow roove 29, end it spectively,

will be securely held by the walls of the groove, as shown. This spring, it will be seen inclines from the lower wall of the slot toward the upper wall, and one of the dc pressions inthe spring, as. at 28", receives the free end of the brace when the table leg is extended.

What I claim is:

1. lna table, a top consisting of a relatively thin, light sheet of fibrous material, a frame supporting the margins thereof, and a reinforcing plate secured underneath the top for strengthening the same, said plate being smaller than the said frame and fitting within the same, so that it underlies the central portion only of said top, said plate having a fiatupper surface in close contact with the lower surface of the top and provided on its underside with stiffening ribs,

2, In a table, a top consisting of a relatively thin, light sheet of fibrous material, a rectangular frame supporting the margins thereof, and a rectangular reinforcing plate secured underneath the top for strengthening the same, said plate having a flat upper surface in E on-tact with the lower surface of the top and provided on its underside with stiffening ribs crossing each other an angle and extending substantially parallel with the respective sides of the rectangular plate,

3. In a table, a top, a supporting frame at the margins thereof and a cover extending over the edges of the top, said top and frame having rounded upper and lower edges, re-

and metal molding extending around the top and frame and having curved flanges fitting over said rounded edges, the upper flange of the molding extending inwardly beyond the inner margin of the frame In testimony whereof l'have aflixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

chlannn Anion in, 

